Travel tales and tips from a perpetual overpacker.

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Beach, Please: Epic Guest Room Redesign

Being in the ocean is damn near a spiritual experience for me—and that’s not hyperbole. I never feel more intimately connected to the world and simultaneously so infinitely a small part of it than when I immerse myself in the deep blue.

However, I have grown deep roots in a city that does not give me instant access to an ocean, so I felt an intense yearning to bring the essence of the ocean to me.

When I found myself with the fresh palette of a new home, it seemed only natural to transform an entire room into my own island oasis filled with the vibe of my favorite places on Earth.

Coastal-themed rooms are nothing new, but all of the inspiration that I found fell into one of two extremes: it was either way too predictable/sophisticated (think navy and gold) or way too kitsch (way too many seashells). Neither was the aesthetic I was aiming for.

It was with this challenge in mind—of creating a beach-inspired space that captures the essence of being on an island without getting too kitschy—that I created my most-proud home design to date: a chic—yet fun—Caribbean-inspired guest room.

The guest room.

It finally all came together!

Little nook, with a ship-inspired light. Anyone ready to write a message in a bottle?

Souvenirs on display.

With the exception of the round pillow and the orange one, I made the other throw pillows!

Surfboard headboard, made by yours truly.

These lamps, tho!

My favorite souvenir: sand from every beach I visited in 2016.

A perfect print from Sint Maarten, in a fun frame I found on the cheap!

Art from Grand Cayman

My own photos from Grand Cayman.

Surfs up! Technically from Cali, but I learned to surf in Sint Maarten.